Abbey hosts Field of Remembrance: The Church of England Newspaper, November 12, 2012 November 15, 2012

The Duke of Edinburgh opened the 84th Royal British Legion’s Field of Remembrance last week at Westminster Abbey.

On 8 Nov 2012 Prince Phillip was joined by the dean, Dr. John Hall, and the rector of St Margaret’s, Canon Andrew Tremlett on the Abbey’s North Green. The Last Post was sounded from the parapet of St Margaret’s Church by Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry and the Exhortation of Remembrance was read by Sarah Jones, President of the Royal British Legion Poppy Factory, before an observance of two minutes’ silence at 11am.

The Duke of Edinburgh laid a cross of remembrance in front of two wooden crosses from the Graves of Unknown British Soldiers from the First and Second World Wars. After the silence His Royal Highness toured the plots of poppy crosses meeting veterans, representatives of organisations involved in conflict, and members of the public, who have planted a cross in memory of their fallen comrades and loved ones.

“For the 84th time at the Field of Remembrance we meet again to remember those who gave their lives in the conflicts of our time that we might enjoy freedom and peace,” the dean told the congregation. Each November the Royal British Legion establishes a Field of Remembrance of scarlet poppies in the grounds of the abbey in memory and in tribute to the ex-servicemen.